#TucsonGemShow 2015 Mineral Lectures - First Night SRO!

It was a gorgeous evening this weather is cooperating beautifully - the Riverpark In set a lovely spread of wine, cheeses, fruit and crackers and the tent filled quickly...

There was overflow in the back and along the side...


7:15 - 7:50 pm 

John S. White, former Curator-In-Charge, Mineral Division, Smithsonian Institution

"Reminiscences of a Very Old Former Curator"

John White's "Reminiscences of an Old Former Curator" was originally delivered to the 2013 Rochester Mineralogical Symposium. White is the founder of Mineralogical Record and retired as Curator-in-Charge of the Division of Mineralogy at the Smithsonian Institution. 

One of the fabulous items in this presentation is the assortment of great old photo memories

The previous photo shows Bill Larsen presenting the Candleabra to John White -
 this photo is the mineral  once it was cleaned up

White's presentation includes personal anecdotes that will delight the mineral and gemstone enthusiast. via Pala International

"John White's "Reminiscences of an Old Former Curator" was delivered to the 2013 Rochester Mineralogical Symposium. White is the founder of Mineralogical Record and retired as Curator-in-Charge of the Division of Mineralogy at the Smithsonian Institution. White's presentation includes personal anecdotes that will delight the mineral and gemstone enthusiast. Posted by Pala International with permission of John White"

8:00 - 8:30 pm 

Bob Jones, Sr. Editor, Rock & Gem Magazine

"Tucson: How It All Began"

Bob Jones was around at the beginning and was a wealth of knowledge

Bob is nothing if not candid and hilarious!!!

....and, like John's his talk was filled with remembrances and great old photos
 - this is the school that housed the original Tucson Gem Show

8:40 - 9:15  pm 

Marco Campos-Venuti, Volcanologist

 "Genesis and Classification of Agates and Jaspers: A new Theory"

6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. / 9:15 to 9:45 p.m.

Hosted Wine and Cheese Reception 

A couple of additions - Aisha and Maury talked some of the mineral vendors into donating some great minerals - books - magazines and calendars and there were drawings between presentations!   So - be sure to get there early enough to drop your business card in the bowl!

In fact - yours truly won this stunning specimen thanks to Pascal Quenaon of Mineral'ys

AND - last but not least - the several of the vendors in the Int'l Mineral Bldg are staying open for you to get a glass of wine and wander through their rooms!

It is a great variety from a Spanish dealer, inTan Room 180 -

 with amazing Sphalerite, Cinnabar and Aragonite

....a Brazilian dealer, GEOinfo   Room 173  with Brazilian Specimens and Rough Imperial Topaz

Just a wonderful variety of dealers including of course Aisha & Arif - Rocksaholics!

SO - join us tonight for the second evening of mineral lectures featuring Dr. Donald Lum (pictured below at last night's event with his wife and Marco Campos-Venutti)...we will look at Dr. Lum's collection - look at Mexican minerals with Peter Megaw and take a trip to Pakistan with my favorite tour director - Federico Barlocher!   See you soon!